Despite there being no foreseeable end to the moratorium on oil exploration in the short term, Bahamas Petroleum Company is claiming it intends to drill its first test well this year and no later than April 2013.
While, according to Minister of Environment Earl Deveaux the moratorium, which remains in effect, covers oil exploration and “definitely drilling”, the Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) website claims the company “intends to continue the exploration programme in the next extension (through 2015)”.
Mr Deveaux has confirmed that BPC has certain rights and obligations included in its permit, which are written into the act and regulations.
However, The Tribune understands even if the provisions allow non drilling exploration the company has yet to apply for specific permits to test for oil which must be approved by the Governor General.
Tribune feature writer Larry Smith, in an article published this week said under existing Bahamian law, licensees are required to drill an exploratory well within a certain timeframe – which in BPC’s case is prior to April 2013 – or risk forfeiting their rights. The company says it has completed the required environmental impact assessment for this test well and is already working on a management plan.
According to Ben Albury, the DNA’s candidate for Montagu, the website should be clarified by the BPC and the government.
“Either Mr Deveaux is being misleading or BPC is misleading investors,” Mr Albury said.
Once again calling on the PLP to join the conversation on oil exploration, Mr Albury questioned both the party’s connection to BPC and whether they are receiving election donations.
“Oil drilling threatens two of our country’s biggest industries, tourism and fishing, therefore the DNA demands to know if Mr Deveaux and the FNM government have ensured the protection of Bahamian interest.”
“It is that these decisions are being made in the confines of back rooms and secret meetings,” Mr Albury said. “I want the public to know what is about to happen in our precious sea.”
Source: The Tribune
